Facebook Blocks Dangerous Rohingya Militant Group

Facebook has decided to ban a dangerous Rohingya militant group from its site as it considers it a dangerous organisation. The social media plays a key role in the information war taking place over violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which has forced more than 420,000 Rohingya Muslims out of the country.

Social media is being used to post alleged scenes of brutality from the conflict zone, where humanitarian and media access is severely restricted, while the army and government deliver near-daily updates on the crisis.

Facebook spokeswoman informed that it was not requested by the government to ban the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), as it continues to be active on twitter. She said that the move was within the framework of the company to prohibit violent groups from its site.

She added that Facebook was aware that Rohingya activists were using the site to promote their messages.

Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has played down claims of atrocities and blamed “a huge iceberg of misinformation” for complicating the conflict.